North Korea

An editorial assignment to visit the new North Korean Masik Ski Resort to see what sort of influence ski tourism and ski culture brings to the world’s most isolated people. Project partner, writer Tim Nevile.

Date:Winter 2014

Client:Ski Magazine, SwissInfo.ch, Esquire UK

Filed under:Projects

A North Korean citizen with his bike alongside the highway, photographed through the window of a bus.

North Korean soldiers gathered in the park outside the Pyongyang mausoleum to their leaders, North Korea. This image was technically illegal to make as it is strictly forbidden to make images of the military.

A small child peers out of the window in the back of a Pyongyang bus, North Korea

North Koreans in traditional clothing dancing at the birthday celebration of Kim Jong Il, Pyongyang, North Korea

The Pyongyang bowling alley, North Korea

A North Korean rest stop restaurant sits on an enormous, yet empty and not often used highway.

North Korean soldiers at the DMZ

A group of North Korean children playing on roller blades in Kaesong, North Korea. I had asked our minder if it was okay to photograph in this square, to which I was told, “absolutely not.” He explained that westerners only want to show images of how poor North Korea is. When these children rolled by I ignored his order and made the image, it shows the humanity of the country so few know any truths about.

Blurred, ghostly figures during the Pyongyang commute in the underground metro, Pyongyang, North Korea

The Pyongyang underground metro, Pyongyang, North Korea

The Pyongyang underground metro, Pyongyang, North Korea

A man stands reading a news board in the Pyongyang underground metro, Pyongyang, North Korea

A lone bike commuter riding alongside the city front, Pyongyang, North Korea

The North Korean Workers Party Monument. Pyongyang, North Korea

Winter sunrise over Pyongyang, North Korea as seen from the tourist hotel’s 39th floor where nearly all tourists stay. During the night, few lights can be seen in the city with the exception of giant, glowing propaganda monitors throughout the city.

Statues of the Great Leaders, Pyongyang, North Korea

A modern, German style restaurant and brewery reveals the change occuring in Pyongyang, North Korea

A lone ski lift operator, Masik Ryong Ski Resort, North Korea

A small North Korean child with his sled on the magic carpet people mover, Masik Ryong Ski Resort, North Korea

A North Korean couple showing affection while riding a ski lift, something they may not be able to do in public.

Skiing at Masik Ryong Ski Resort

A North Korean commander and soldier photographing a child at the Masik Ryong Ski Resort, North Korea